Automatic distilling apparatus



(No Model.) RUUD AUTOMATIOYDISTILLING APPARATUS. No. 496,488. PatentedMay 2, 1893.

wmuzsses: 20 Mon,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWIN RUU D, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

AUTOMATIC DISTILLING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 496,488, dated May 2,1893. ApplioationfiledDecember 12, 1892. Serial No. 454,895. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWIN RUUD, a citizen of the United States, residingat Pittsburg, in

the county of Allegheny and State of Pennfurnished, the appliance beingautomatic in operation, and enabling the ordinary water back or othermeans ordinarily employed to be dispensed with.

To this end, my invention, generally stated, consists in the combinationof a boiler, a condenser provided with supply and discharge connections,a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a distilled waterreceptacle, a boiler float controlling the supply of water from thecondenser to the boiler, and a distilled Water receptacle floatcontrolling the supply of gas to the burner.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

The accompanying drawing is a vertical, central section through anautomatic distilling apparatus illustrating an application of myinvention.

In the practice of my invention I provide a condenser 1, having a lowersupply connection 2, and an upper discharge connection 3, which may besecured to a removable cap 4, closing the top of the condenser. Thesupply' connection is adapted to be connected with a main or primarysupply pipe 5 leading from the house water service pipe, and thedischarge connection with a pipe 6 leading to a hot water receptacleyas,for example, an ordinary range boilerj A boiler 7,- which may beconveniently made in spheri-c cal form, and composed of two sectionsconnected by flanges, as shown, is supported at a convenient distancebelow the condenser,

being, in the instance shown, screwed to a tubular projection 8, cast onthe bottom of the condenser, and open at its lower end to the boiler. Aboiler supply pipe 9, leads from the upper portion of the condenser,being, in

this instance, secured to a nozzle on the cap, to a port 10, in theupper portion of the boiler 7, which port is controlled by a downwardlyopening water feed valve 11, on the end of a stem 12, the-lower end ofwhich is connected to a curved lever 13, which is journaled, with thecapacity of a limited degree of vibration, on a pin 14, fitted in lugson the inside of'the boiler 7.

It will be obvious that there is a practical advantage in leading theboiler supply pipe 9 from the condenser, as shown, for the reason that,by such connection, warmer water will be supplied to the boiler than ifthe pipe 9 were led directly from the main supply pipe to the boiler. Ido not, however, desire to limit my invention to a construction in whichsuch indirect or intermediate connection is employed, as the pipe 9 may,if preferred, beled directly from the main supply pipe 5 to the boiler,without, in any wise, involving a departure from the essential principleof operation of the apparatus.

A ball or float 15, which is preferably of light sheet metal, and is ofsufiicient buoyancy to float in water, is placed in the boiler, itscurved upper surface fitting under the curved portion of the lever 13,against which it bears when the water in the boiler rises above adetermined level, and thereby raises the lever 13 and the connectedvalve stem 12 and water feed valve 11, seating the valve 11 and cuttingoff the supply of water from the condenser to the boiler. The downwardtraverse of the float 15, after it has effected the full opening of thevalve 11, is suitably limited by a fixed stop 21.

A delivery pipe 16, leads outwardly from the upper portion of the boiler7, being, in this instance, connected to the open ended tubularprojection 8 of the condenser, and passing through a suitably packedstuffing box 17, in the cap of the condenser, is led through thecondenser in ahelical coil, or in the manner of the worm of a still, soas to present as large an amount of condensing surface as practicable,after which it is passed out of the condenser and led downwardly to alower distilled water receptacle 18, which is provided with a cover 19,and a delivery cook 20.

Heat is applied to the boiler 7, for the generation of steam from watercontained therein, by a gas burner 22, to which gas is supplied from agas service pipe 23, delivering gas into a mixer 21, from which, withair which enters at the bottom of the mixer, the gas passes into theburner and is ignited at its upper openings. The gas burner is inclosedwithin an open bottomed casing 25, which is closed at top by the boilerand is provided with an upper discharge opening or flue connection 26.The flow of gas to the burner 22 is controlled by a gas supply valve 27,on the upper end of a stem 28, the lower end of which is connected to alever 29, journaled, by a pin 30, to a lug or lugs on the inside of thedistilled water receptacle 18. The lever 29 is moved upwardly, so as toseat the valve 27, and cut off the supply of gas to the burner, when thedistilled water in the receptacle 18 has risen to a determined level, bya float 31, which rises and falls with the level of the water in thereceptacle 18. An igniting jet 32, which is kept continuously lightedduring the operation of the apparatus, is connected to the gas supplypipe 23, on the supply side of the valve 27, the opening of the jetbeing located in position to ignite a mixture of gas and air passing outof the burner 2, and being of such diameter that only a small gas flameis maintained at its outlet.

In order to admit of the escape of any excess of water which may leakinto the boiler when the apparatus is not in service, and thereby toprevent the entry of such excess of water into the distilled waterreceptacle an overflow pipe 33 is led out of the bottom of the boilerand after being carried upwardly to a level near its top, is connectedwith a suitable discharge. A cook 34: in the lower portion of theoverflow pipe 33,is provided to admit of the periodical withdrawal ofall Water from the boiler 7, to effect the removal of sediment or forother purposes. The proper distance between the boiler and the distilledwater receptacle 18 is maintained by a rod or stem 35, which is, in thiscase, shown as connected to the cover 19 of the receptacle and to anelbow on the overflow pipe In the operation of the apparatus, wateradmitted through the supply pipe 5 fills the condenser 1, and thencepasses, through the pipe 9 and port 11 into the boiler 7. \Vhen thewater has risen to the determined normal level in the boiler, the float15, through the lever 13 and stem 12, closes the valve 11 and shuts offthe further supply of water to the boiler. The gas being ignited at theopenings of the burner 22, the heat of its flame is applied to theboiler 7, evaporating the water therein, the vapor of which passes outthrough the delivery pipe 1G,and is condensed by the cold water in thecondenser, in its passage through the coils of the pipe 16 therein. Thecondensed water passes through the downward extension of the pipe 16into the receptacle 1S, and the water in the condenser which is heatedby the steam which it has condensed, rises in the condenser and iscollected in the ordinary kitchen hot water tank and used for domesticpurposes, thus further utilizing the heat of the gas flame. As soon asthe water in the receptacle 18 has risen to the determined level, thefloat 31, through the lever 29 and stem 28, closes the valve 27, andshuts oil the supply of gas to the burner 22. The small flame at theigniting jet 32 remains lighted, and, when sufficient distilled waterhas been drawn from the receptacle 18 to lower the float 31 below thedetermined level at which it closes the gas supply valve 27, said floatwill reopen the valve 27, and the gas thereby permitted to flow out ofthe openings of the burner 22 will be again ignited by the flame at thejet 32, and the operation of evaporation and condensation will beresumed and continued, as before, until the float 31 has been againraised to its determined level in the receptacle 18 by the supply ofdistilled water thereto, when the gas supply will be again shut cit, andthe operation discontinued. It will thus be seen that the action of theapparatus is entirely automatic, and that it will perform its functions,in accordance with the conditions of delivery, so long as water issupplied through the pipe 5.

It is well recognized that a large proportion of the cases of illnessand resultant death in many communities, is due to the use of impuredrinking water, and that no effective purification of the water isattained by filtration. My invention provides, Within a com pass, andunder a construction suitably and conveniently adapted for domestic use,an automatically acting appliance by which a constant supply of purewater is furnished, and which economically utilizes the heat requiredfor distillation, in likewise providing a supply of hot water forwashing and other household purposes.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent- 1. Thecombination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a water supplyconnection leading thereinto, a condenser provided with water supply anddischarge connections, a gas burner located in position to heat theboiler, a distilled water receptacle, a connection leading, through thecondenser, from the boiler to said receptacle, a boiler floatcontrolling the supply of water to the boiler, and a distilled waterreceptacle float controlling the supply of gas to the burner.

2. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a watersupply connection leading thereinto, a condenser provided with watersupply and discharge connections, a gas burner located in position toheat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, a connection leading,through the condenser, from the boiler to said receptacle, a boilerfloat controlling the supply of water to the boiler, a distilled waterreceptacle float controlling the supply of ICC gas to the burner, and anoverflow pipe leadboiler, a water feed valve controlling said supplypipe, a lever journaled on the inside of the boiler and connected to thestem of said valve, a float within the boiler bearing against said leverat a determinedwater level, a delivery pipe leadingfrom theboiler andthrough the condenser toa lower point of discharge, a distilled waterreceptacle located in position to receive the discharge from thedelivery pipe,a gas burner located in position to heat the boiler, a gassupply valve controlling the flow of gas to the burner, a leverjournaled inside the distilled water receptacle and connected to thestem of said valve, and a float Within said receptacle bearing againstsaid lever at a determined water level.

4. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a condenserprovided with water supply and discharge connections, a gas burnerlocated in position to heat the boiler, a distilled water receptacle, aboiler float controlling the supply of water from the condenser to theboiler, a distilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of gasto the burner, and an igniting jet located adjacent to the burner.

5. The combination, substantially as set forth, of a boiler, a watersupply pipe leading thereinto, a gas burner located in position to heatthe boiler, a delivery pipe having condensing coils and leading fromthe'boiler to a lower point of discharge, a distilled water receptaclelocated in position to receive the discharge from the delivery pipe, aboiler float controlling the supply of water to the boiler, and adistilled water receptacle float controlling the supply of gas to theburner.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. v

EDWIN RUUD. Witnesses:

J. SNOWDEN BELL, R. H. WHITTLESEY.

